California: Positive international recognition will be a prime consideration for the US Olympic Committee (USOC) before it nominates a candidate city for the 2016 Summer Games.
Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago are in the running for selection and the USOC is expected to decide whether to enter the bid process by the end of this year.
If the committee decides to go forward, a candidate city would be selected in April 2007.
"The international reaction to a prospective bid is very important to us and we do not want to enter this process unless we have a meaningful chance to win," USOC Vice-President Bob Ctvrtlik told a news conference on Thursday.
"We have been receiving positive feedback from IOC (International Olympic Committee) members, as well as from international federation presidents, secretary-generals and other national Olympic associations. We are moving closer and closer to that decision date and all of that international input is vital," added Ctvrtlik, who was speaking at the end of a two-day seminar hosted by the USOC for the three potential US candidates.
"We are very pleased with the level of effort and commitment demonstrated by the cities thus far. While there is still much work to do, we want to offer the cities the opportunity to delve more deeply into the relevant themes."
The candidate cities were briefed on USOC's long-term vision and strategy, and given practical insight on the mechanics of the bid process and the rest of the evaluation period.
Cautious note
Although the USOC is widely expected to go ahead with a 2016 bid, Chairman Peter Ueberroth sounded a note of caution.
"There's not yet a city that has all four wheels on the ground and ready to start its engine," he said.
"They're getting there, but they're not there yet. We're not going to make the mistake of the past."
San Francisco's potential bid was dealt an unexpected blow when the city's 49ers professional football team announced on Thursday they would move to Santa Clara, California by 2012.
San Francisco officials had hoped the 49ers would build a new stadium at their current home in Candlestick Point capable of hosting Olympic events, such as opening and closing ceremonies, but a feasible plan was not forthcoming.
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Asked whether San Francisco would consider withdrawing from the bid process, director of communications Jamie Rupert replied: "We don't have all the information right now and it would be premature to speculate. I don't think that we're under a timetable. It's all about making the right decision."
If San Francisco officials decide to stay in the race, a replacement venue will need to be secured by March 31 next year.
Firm commitment
"We need to have some things locked and loaded and guaranteed with firm commitment," Ctvrtlik said.
"Obviously this is a major setback to them. We'll wait to see what happens."
Los Angeles, which has twice hosted the Summer Olympics, and Chicago appear to be on rock-solid footing with their proposed main venues.
Los Angeles plans to renovate the LA Coliseum while Chicago is preparing to build a stadium in its Washington Park area.
Of the three candidate cities, Los Angeles has the advantage of existing infrastructure but will have to overcome possible opposition to its hosting the Games for a third time.
"We've been up front with the LA officials and a key component of their bid is how they answer that question," Ctvrtlik said.
"You can have all the venues built but if you can't have the voters convinced as to why the Olympics should come back to your city it won't really be of much help."
The United States last hosted the Summer Games in 1996 in Atlanta. New York staged an unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Games, won by London.
The International Olympic Committee will choose the 2016 host city in 2009. Madrid has signalled its intention to bid again and there also is interest in Italy, India, Japan and Brazil.
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